What's their point in "skewing" the polls in Bush's favour?

[Darth_Kitten]

Doesn't that just get the liberal/progressive/moderate base even MORE keyed up about voting Bush OUT? :evilgrin:

:shrug: Just wondering...

[Jim Sagle]

1. It's good cover for vote theft.

[Cassandra]

12. That and..

if he were shown to be falling in the polls, they might have to discuss why. This way, everything is just peachy-keen.

[Beetwasher]

14. Yup. If You're Going To Cheat, Cheat BIG and Have Plausible Cover

It wouldn't surprise me if not only does Bush "win", but he "wins" in an apparent landslide.

[salinen]

2. DIEBOLD!!!!

[CrispyQ]

3. So when they steal the election via BBV

they can point out that the polls showed a very close race & no one - especialy the media & sheeple - will question the outcome.

[mhr]

4. Reverse Psychology Is In Play - Let's Demoralize The Progressives

By removing all hope that change is possible.

Why vote if it is a forgone conclusion that Bush will win.

[wtmusic]

5. yes, and no

"bandwagon" mentality will sway many undecideds to W if it looks like a clear victory. Can the motivation it generates overcome that?

Don't count on it.

[RollergirlVT]

6. to prevent...

B*shit from imploding. He's on the brink of collapse ya know. :-)

[JerseygirlCT]

7. There are also really people out there

who want to vote for the "winner". So these skewed polls benefit Bush b/c these silly people assume he'll win, and vote accordingly.

Also there are those who just give up if they think that the election is already decided.

[ewagner]

8. Voter Suppression

If liberals/progressives think it's a lost cause they'll give up...that's what they're hoping for.

[Darth_Kitten]

10. They should realize by now the "left" are used to "lost causes"!!!

Their loss!! :hi: :D :bounce: ;)

[ewagner]

24. Only us Hardcores

there are still some defeatists out there....we need to prop them up!

[LeftCoast]

9. Could there be a legitimate reason for skewing the polls like this?

I'm not sure if the skew is legit or not, but I'd be curious to hear if there could be a legit reason for why some polling places are doing this.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Well, is there a legitimate reason for lying?

Two groups who think so are the neocons and the Fundies, both for similar reasons. They think any means are legitimate in order to advance what they see as a "higher purpose."

[dumpster_baby]

13. bandwagon effect (however, bush IS probably ahead) n/t

[eaprez]

15. yeah but if they steal the election....

...no one would question it because after all, they were ahead weren't they?

[emulatorloo]

16. To get "its all hopeless" Dems to stay home on election day

Beleive me, I have talked several "its all hopeless" Dems off the ledge re these polls. Please do the same. . .

Here's how I do it.

Polls in MOE
Some Polls oversampling Repiglicans
Kerry doing well in Electoral College
No Gore voter is gonna vote Bush, Many 2000 Nader Voters will vote Kerry, Many 2000 Bush voters will stay home.

I am sure you will come up with your own variation.

[On the Road]

17. Political Campaigns ALWAYS Project Electoral Strength

its effectiveness varies widely, but it often supports the idea that there is a broad consensus behind the candidate. That's an element is a lot of undecided voters' minds.

[MallRat]

18. Casual undecided voters may be unmotivated if it looks like a lost cause.

It's all about suppressing their turnout at the polls.

-MR

[wiggs]

19. Dollars

I don't think this is the only reason, but I believe there is an economic component to polling that is behind what we are seeing.

Just like the media hypes the Peterson trial so that more people will tune in to the latest, I think polling companies (many of which are media owned or participate with media in polling) benefit the more controversy there is and the more close the race is. This whole election is gold for polling companies and media companies. More polls, more weird polls, and more close polls all are fodder for news and talk shows. People are waiting with anticipation on every poll result announced.

How much money would polling companies, media outlets, and corporate advertisers lose if the race were in the bag for one of the candidates and no one was tuning in? We're talking big, big money.

It is very similar to a theory I have about NBA playoffs. I believe that the refs and NBA league recognize that there is much more money to be made for everybody if a playoff series is close and goes 6 or 7 games rather than 4 or 5 games. This is why the referees gave game 6 to the Lakers over Sacramento a few years ago....there are literally 10's of millions of dollars on the line there.

I'm not even sure that the political parties mind the polls showing a close race or a poll showing their party behind. Probably stimulates dontations.

It is the same as everything else, the bottom line is to get the public to be good consumers and spend more money. What in current society isn't like that?

[DeepModem Mom]

20. To make people think they're crazy to vote for Kerry...

if everyone else is for Bush. He must be the great leader the press says he is, despite what people see re. the economy, and the Iraq war.

[Kal Belgarion]

21. What I'd like to think...

Is that Bush needs to be pretty high up for his fall from grace. If it's a close race, and Kerry ends up winning handily, there's no story. But if Bush is up by 15 points, and then plummets, the Media will have a real story.

And, hey, liberals know about fighting for lost causes. As Jefferson Smith said, lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for. :)

[enki23]

22. for the most part, they aren't doing it on purpose

this may turn out to be a skewed election, while the poll 'likely voter' models assume that it will more closely mirror previous elections.

[Guaranteed]

23. It's psychological- it destroys morale. nt

[liberal N proud]

25. All of the above n/t

[blm]

26. If they can make the public BELIEVE it's close in polls, it's easier to

steal it with rigged machines or absentee ballots.

[grace0418]

27. Yeah, I know a lot of Dems who are getting discouraged by

the polls, even though I keep assuring them. The GOP knows this will work for at least some people.